Isla Paulson has always felt more at home running than in any classroom. After several promising seasons at Sherwood High, she attempted to run collegiatly but felt schoolwork impeded her potential to run professionally. So, after only one season at Northern Arizona University, the deeply religious Paulson chose to leave school after much prayer and deliberation. Since then she has performed fantastically winning the Citizens Race at Bolder Boulder in May of 2008.

She then debuted in the New York City Half Marathon where she placed ninth with a PR of 1:13:22. Then, at the USA 20k Championships in New Haven she placed 3rd to qualify for the World Road Racing Championships in Rio de Janeiro. In her first marathon attempt she captured the US title, winning the Twin Cities Marathon with a PR of 2:31.49. Her successes did not stop there, in April of 2010 she won the Music City Marathon in Nashville, TN. She currently resides and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona under the world famous coach Jack Daniels. They share high expectations for her marathon ability, and given her accomplishments so far we all look forward to seeing her progression.